Groove is still in her art

Once the dee-groovy and dee-gorgeous lead singer of ’90s dance pop group Deee-Lite, DJ Lady Miss Kier is now making it on her own.

And this year she’s bringing her alternative taste in music to the Sydney Mardi Gras Party, playing Mardigrasland’s T.G.I Retro in the Hi-Fi.

“I am always happy to support my gay brothers and sisters by celebrating rare musical gems from artists who have also struggled by being pioneers,” Kier said.

“I’ve found it more important to share my opinion of what good music is and not follow the mediocre lame-stream artists that the old machine music industry promotes, or what the circuit parties play.”

With six number one hits on the US Billboard dance/club charts, Deee-Lite are still known and loved by Aussie fans for their ’60s-inspired number one single, Groove Is In The Heart. The track still fills an empty dancefloor more than two decades after its release.

And while Kier admits Groove Is In The Heart and its album World Clique are both considered classics, “the one album that continues to sell and is considered a cult classic is named Dewdrops
In The Garden. It is the album that the younger kids always send praises for”.

Kier said the hit helped push her solo career.

“It opened up the entire world to knowing who I am and the songs I write and produce,” she said. “It enabled me to travel the world.”

Deee-Lite — comprised of Super DJ Dimitri, Lady Miss Kier, Japanese DJ Towa Tei, and DJ Ani — broke up in 1995 due to artistic differences. Towa Tei was the first to depart, famously working with Kylie Minogue on two of her more cultish tracks, German Bold Italic and Sometime Samurai.

Kier hung on to her signature retro music and personal style while transitioning her fashion and music into the new century.

“I prefer performing as a solo artist,” she said, “but doing so rejuvenates my soul and allows me to move the crowd in an entirely different way.”

Kier has performed in Australia at the annual Good Vibrations music festival.

“I performed my disco act in 2006 as part of a festival that James Brown was headlining and so I have fond memories of him right before he died,” she said.

“The people are very down-to-earth, friendly and speak their mind.”

Asked whether she was an advocate for LGBTI rights, Kier was quick to respond.

“Do you have to ask? Yes, I’ve been supporting gay rights since the early ’80s.

“I believe lovers are the luckiest people, and if they want to get married, they should have the right — no matter what their sexual preference is.

“I’m not the wife type though, and I’m not a traditionalist at all.”

While Kier hasn’t been asked to march in the Mardi Gras Parade, she said she would “definitely be open to that”.

Originally a designer, Kier was known as one of the club kids, creating her own outrageous outfits that were later to become part of the cult look that was Deee-Lite.

And Sydney Mardi Gras’ will be no different, with Kier saying she would “of course be making a new outfit”, but refused to spill any details. “You’ll have to wait for the show.”

Kier said partygoers can expect to hear her play some “rare disco, Italo disco, and late ’80s house, with some acid house,” which is sure to diversify the typical Mardi Gras fare.

She may even relive those Deee-Lite days and perform Groove Is In The Heart, “depending on the sound system available”.

INFO: Party with DJ Lady Miss Kier alongside Horse Meat Disco and RuPaul at the T.G.I Retro in the Hi-Fi this Sydney Mardi Gras Party at Mardigrasland. www.mardigras.org.au